If you’re talking about drum practice pads to an expert, they most likely would recommend an electronic drum set to you. However, electronic drum sets can be somewhat expensive especially for the beginner. A more affordable option might be a drum practice pad.
Drum practice pads are great as you’ll be able to use them to build impressive drumming skills without having to purchase an entire kit.
Also, for drummers who travel a lot but don’t want to lose valuable practice time, drum practice pads are a must-have. Drum practice pads come in small, convenient sizes which make them super portable and a common choice for traveling drummers.
Here’s the problem though, drum practice pads come in their hundreds in the market, from different brands. How do you choose? Well, that’s why you’ve got us. We have everything laid out for you here including a buying guide. Walk with us and let’s get this party started!
Contents
- Top 10 Best Drum Practice Pads On The Market 2023 Reviews
- 1 Movement Drum 12-inch Double Sided Practice Pad
- 2 Drumeo P4 Practice Pad
- 3 Evans RealFeel 2-Sided Practice Pad
- 4 Offworld Percussion Invader V3 Practice Pad
- 5 DW Drum Workshop Go Anywhere Pad Set
- 6 Vic Firth Double-Sided Practice Pad
- 7 Remo 8 inch Gray Tunable Practice Pad
- 8 Ammoon 10 Inch Drum Practice Pad
- 9 Movement Drum Ultra Portable Practice Pad
- 10 Sabian 10-inch Quiet Tone Mesh Practice Pad
- Best Drum Practice Pads Buying Guide
- Conclusion
Top 10 Best Drum Practice Pads On The Market 2023 Reviews
| Name | Sides | Size | Hitting Surfaces | Material | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sides Dual-sided | Size 12 inches | Hitting Surfaces 4 | Material Top: durable silicone rubber Bottom: Softer rubber | Weight 4.41 pounds | |
Also Great Drumeo P4 Practice Pad  View Price | Sides One | Size 12 inches | Hitting Surfaces 4 | Material Standard gum rubber, Neoprene rubber. Cream surface: | Weight 2 pounds |
Sides Dual-sided | Size 12 inches | Hitting Surfaces Not specified | Material Slightly textured natural gum rubber, Harder, firmer recycled rubber | Weight 3.54 pounds | |
Sides One | Size 14 inches | Hitting Surfaces 1 | Material Dark matter polymer (hard rubber) | Weight 4.88 pounds | |
Sides Drum set | Size N/A | Hitting Surfaces 5 | Material Not specified | Weight 19.5 pounds | |
Sides Dual-sided | Size 12 inches | Hitting Surfaces Not specified | Material Top surface: Soft rubber Bottom: Hard rubber | Weight 3.2 ounces | |
Sides One | Size 8 inches | Hitting Surfaces Not specified | Material Not specified | Weight 1.3 pounds | |
Also Great Ammoon 10 Inch Drum Practice Pad  View Price | Sides One | Size 10 inches | Hitting Surfaces Not specified | Material Plastic rim and anti-slip bottom | Weight 1.6 pounds |
Sides One | Size 6 inches | Hitting Surfaces Not specified | Material Neoprene rubber | Weight 6.4 ounces | |
Sides One | Size 10 inches | Hitting Surfaces Not specified | Material Not specified | Weight 2 pounds |
1 Movement Drum 12-inch Double Sided Practice Pad
The Movement Drum 12-inch Double Sided Practice Pad comes first on our today’s drum practice pad review. This pad comes with 4 hitting surfaces which accommodate most drummers. You should be able to get a sufficient amount of practice with 4 hitting surfaces whatever your drumming needs are.
We really like this pad as it’s quite portable and will suit all kinds of percussionists. From the ones in the marching band to the concert snare drummer, this practice pad suffices.
Alright, what are the materials here? Well, first off, this is a dual-sided drum practice pad as we’ve already seen from the name. So, it should suggest to you that there is a different material on each side of the pad.
The top side is silicone rubber with a nice rim. The silicone here is highly responsive so you’ll enjoy playing this for sure.
Now, on the flip side, is where you have the rimless bottom. It’s denser than the top side so it’s also the quieter surface as well. It also helps to keep your pad steady while you play the rimmed side.
Furthermore, sandwiched between these two surfaces, you find a polycarbonate inset. It’s clear in color and it helps this pad to emulate a really crisp, properly tuned snare.
Then there’s also the other softer, and much quieter conditioning pad insert. You can swap out the clear polycarbonate insert for this one when you need less rebound. It’s also another great way to improve your techniques.
From all indications, therefore, the Movement Drum 12-inch Double Sided Practice Pad is a great solution for most drummers. In fact, you could say it’s nearly perfect. It suits all the cross-sticking and back-sticking requirements of most players. We love it!
(4.2 / 5)- Comes with 4 different hitting surfaces.
- Construction feels sturdy and durable.
- One of the sides comes with a rim just like an actual drum.
- The other side is rimless which makes it great for tabletop placement or even on a stand or snare.
- You can swap out the polycarbonate insert.
- Polycarbonate insert does not seem durable as it tends to get dented with excessive hitting.
2 Drumeo P4 Practice Pad
Next up is the Drumeo P4 Practice Pad which looks stunning, we must comment. In fact, Drumeo, makers of this practice pad is, apparently, quite popular among customers as it has won several awards on polls and all that.
Its Drumeo Practice Pad comes with four hitting surfaces just like the last practice pad we reviewed. So, you’ll be able to achieve four different kinds of sounds when practicing on this. This is great for versatility. Plus, it helps you achieve and develop consistency and accuracy.
Also, the placement of the 4 different surfaces of this practice pad makes the experience a highly realistic one for players.
Now, on first glance at this pad, the first thing that strikes you is the how good this pad looks. However, besides aesthetics, Drumeo found a really innovative and appealing way to indicate the hitting surfaces on the pad.
The blue surface is made from standard gum rubber which kinda feels like a snare drum with its response and all that.
As for the black surface, that comes in harder neoprene rubber which gives a feel close to what you get on the toms. We say close because it isn’t exactly like the feel of toms but it’s close enough. And, at least, you’d know how to hit toms correctly practicing with this.
And then, there’s the cream surface which gives the feel of a floor tom. It’s great for strength building. Plus, it’s also for a quiet practice.
Lastly, the red surface is the hardest surface of the surfaces. It gives a truly unique sound quite similar to a ride cymbal.
We like how the Drumeo allows you achieve different drumming and stick techniques. In all, it’s a pricey piece but nonetheless, it’s worth every cent!
(4.2 / 5)- This is a handmade set, manufactured in the USA.
- Much reduced noise level.
- Gives an excellent realistic drumming experience.
- 4 different pads with different textures which give enhanced accuracy, versatility, and consistency.
- Gives the right bounce with impressive density on each pad.
- Made from sturdy, durable materials.
- Makes practice more challenging for drummers.
- Can fit on a standard snare stand.
- This is a pricey set.
- The tom pads don’t sound or feel so real.
3 Evans RealFeel 2-Sided Practice Pad
The Evans RealFeel 2-Sided Practice Pad is another drum practice pad we really like. We especially like it because of its convenience. It’s quite large so it works with nearly all kinds of surface including a standard snare drum basket.
This is a dual-sided drum pad, so there are two surfaces you can play on. On the top surface, you have the slightly textured natural gum rubber. This is a soft material which gives you a nice, realistic stick rebound when you’re playing.
Covering this surface, is a really nice dark gray fabric. Of course, it adds to the beauty of this pad. But even more, the fabric is quite tough and resistant to wear and tear. So, it also contributes to the durability of this pad.
Now, on the flip side, there’s the much harder and firmer surface. This is one is recycled rubber and gives less rebound than the top surface.
The bottom surface is best for when you need to achieve a really practice workout session. Strike with heavier drumsticks and your endurance and speed will greatly improve.
At 3.54 pounds, the Evans RealFeel is really portable so you will be able to move this around easily. Plus, the drum is still quite portable which means that you can practice at any time of the day and you’ll be good!
Altogether, this is a fantastic drum practice pad. It’s effective for building techniques, and it is also pretty durable which makes it an investment that’s totally worth it.
(4.8 / 5)- You get a versatile practice experience for beginners thanks to the different feels of the two sides.
- It comes in the right size for a drum pad. It’s neither too big nor too small.
- Can fit any standard snare basket.
- Construction is sturdy and durable.
- The price is quite decent.
- Its 12 inch size is similar to a snare drum.
- Quality gum and rubber materials which give a nice rebound.
- Might come with nasty chemical smell and might come with a few quality issues.
- It’s a bit heavier than most other drum pads.
4 Offworld Percussion Invader V3 Practice Pad
The Offworld Percussion Invader V3 Practice Pad is a great practice pad for marching players and drum corps players too.
Marching snares tend to come with a tighter tuning which gives them their characteristic dry, crisp sound. Plus, their heads are usually much thicker, coming in a material like Kevlar.
These features are some of the things Offworld tries to mimic on the Offworld Percussion Invader V3 Practice Pad. We think Offworld did a great job as the pad is pretty common in the marching community. However, here are some things you should know about this drum practice.
The makers use hard rubber for the pad which is a material proprietary to the brand. Does this material work? Well, apparently, marching drummers seem to think so as the pad gives a real marching snare feel.
Rebound is excellent and the pad also suppresses volume nicely. It is definitely louder than other gum rubber versions of practice pads. Nonetheless, it’s still quieter than some other drum practice pads we’ve seen.
Now, we know marching drummers tend to hit real hard. However, Offworld took that into consideration when making this pad, fortunately. With its robust construction, this pad guarantees you a prolonged use without breakage or damage.
Well, this isn’t a really versatile practice pad as the downside isn’t playable. Plus, it’s also a little bulkier than most. Nonetheless, it’s a great practice pad and we recommend it to any marching drummer looking for a nice pad to practice with.
(4.7 / 5)- Sturdy, durable construction.
- Different color options available.
- Gives a nice rebound.
- Authentic marching feel.
- Also features a stick-saving rim.
- A little expensive.
- You’d have to keep cleaning this from time to time.
- A bit heavy.
- Has only one playing surface.
5 DW Drum Workshop Go Anywhere Pad Set
The DW Drum Workshop Go Anywhere Pad Set is a bit different from what we’ve been seeing so far. Unlike the single piece drum pads we’ve seen, this is a complete set. So, it enhances the practice experience like you’re really practicing on actual drum sets rather than a drum pad.
To add to the convenience, this is a “Go Anywhere” set which means that it is completely moveable. Essentially, what you get here are different pads with a stand on which to carry them. So, you can totally disassemble this and move it with you anywhere.
Plus, the arms are adjustable which makes it easy to position the stand the way you like.
Now to the pads themselves, they actually feel great. Plus, they give a really nice rebound too. This helps you as you practice and build better drumming techniques.
Plus, the pads are also super quiet, there are so many advantages here! One, you get a full kit to yourself which is great for practice. Also, you get to practice as much as you want without disturbing anyone. Everyone wins!
(3.8 / 5)- Comes as a 5-piece set.
- Also comes with a stand which features a tripod for stability and adjustable arms as well.
- Gives an excellent practice experience.
- Pads come with a natural rebound and feel.
- Pretty quiet pads.
- No foot pedal included although advertised.
- Adjusting the arms is a little difficult.
6 Vic Firth Double-Sided Practice Pad
Next up, we have this really great practice pad. It’s the Vic Firth Double-Sided Practice Pad. This is a great practice pad by all standards. It comes with two sides which allows you to practice all kinds of ways on the either side.
Furthermore, the top side is made of soft rubber which is great for a silent practice. It’s also great for building techniques as the rebound is good enough. Nonetheless, some experts might find it a little too bouncy.
Then there’s also the thicker underside which is tougher and therefore allows you get a real nice workout to improve speed and endurance.
It also comes in a convenient size which you can easily place on a stand to make things more realistic. Overall, this is a pretty quiet practice pad. It does what it says which makes it an investment worth the money.
(4.7 / 5)- Large, dual-sided practice pad.
- Wooden base gives superb support.
- Sturdy and durable construction.
- Can fit on most standard snare cases.
- Hard side feels realistic.
- Excellent materials used.
- Feels a little too bouncy.
- A little expensive.
7 Remo 8 inch Gray Tunable Practice Pad
The Remo 8 inch Gray Tunable Practice Pad is our first tunable practice pad on review. We all know Remo. This brand has given us some of the most awesome drum gear in the industry. So, we have high hopes for the Remo 8 inch Gray Tunable Practice pad.
You can use this pad anywhere and you don’t even need a stand to use this. Any random, even a desk will be fine. The pad is a bit small though, if we’re being totally honest. Nonetheless, it’s fantastic for beginners.
It replicates the feel of a snare drum in performance and the sound is also pretty decent. But then we did find that the sound quality could use some improvement though. Generally though, the sound is quite okay.
In all, we will happily recommend this to any beginner. It might be a little too small for the pros but then again, small size also means higher portability.
(4.6 / 5)- Tunable drum practice pad.
- Comes with a protective non-scratch, non-slip rubber bottom.
- Can easily mount this on a table, stand, anywhere.
- Bounce and feel are great.
- Drumhead is replaceable.
- Affordable drum set.
- Great for beginners.
- A little too small for some.
- Not super quiet.
- Sound isn’t exactly like you’d hear from a snare drum.
- A few issues with durability and quality.
8 Ammoon 10 Inch Drum Practice Pad
The Ammoon 10 inch Drum Practice Pad is great especially because it also comes with accessories. This drum practice pad comes with a bag which you use to carry this pad around. This pad also comes with drumsticks which you can use to practice. We’re not sure they are the best out there, though.
This is a tunable drum pad just like we saw on the Remo 8 inch drum pad. You can adjust the tension to your tastes. But overall, the bounce here is pretty solid thanks to the solid plastic material used for the top material.
To give this pad a more snare-like feel, this practice pad also comes with a rim. Plus, there’s also the anti-slip bottom which makes it easy for you to play without being inconvenienced from constant slippage.
Furthermore, this pad also works great on a stand. There’s a small screw hole at the bottom which makes that possible.
Lastly, it’s a pretty basic practice pad without any frills. If this is your target, you’ve got it in the Ammoon 10 Inch Drum Practice Pad.
(3.6 / 5)- Pretty affordable.
- Comes with accessories.
- Decent sound and bounce quality.
- Anti-slip bottom with small screw hole at the bottom which makes it easy to fit anywhere.
- This is a no-frills package.
9 Movement Drum Ultra Portable Practice Pad
This is another practice pad from Movement Drum Co. The Movement Drum Ultra Portable Practice Pad is another basic, no-frills drum pad. It might not boast a lot of sophistication but it will definitely serve whatever purpose you have in mind. Just keep it basic, though.
Now, this pad comes in neoprene rubber which is super eco-friendly. Plus, it has a really nice snare feel. Moreover, with a neoprene rubber pad, it’s easy for you to practice as much as you can at a much reduced volume.
The pad is also really easy to clean as well. Plus, there’s a bag included which helps you to move this around conveniently. The light weight of this pad also adds to the portability of this pad which is another reason it is easy to carry around. You’ll be able to practice anywhere with this pad.
Also included in this package is a pair of drumsticks which makes it possible for you to practice out of the box. We don’t think they are best for building the right skills, though.
Finally, this is another great beginner drum pad as it will be grossly insufficient for the expert. But altogether, this is a decent pad at a decent price.
(4.6 / 5)- Decently priced.
- Super quiet drum pads.
- Lightweight with a bag that makes it easy to carry around.
- Sufficient for beginners.
- This will not suffice for experts.
10 Sabian 10-inch Quiet Tone Mesh Practice Pad
The Sabian 10-inch Quiet Tone Mesh Practice Pad is our final drum practice pad on review. It might not be really popular in the drumming community, nonetheless, it’s still a great piece.
Anyway, the Sabian 10-inch Quiet tone comes with a mesh surface which is great for practice. Also, the rebound is really nice. But what’s even more amazing is the nice quality to it. Sabian wasn’t joking when it called this the “Quiet Tone”. This drum pad is pretty quiet.
Furthermore, it’s also pretty versatile too as you’ll be able to achieve your brushes just like you would on an actual snare. It’s not as easy as you would have done on the coated version but it’s decent all the same.
Another feature we like about this pad is the fact that you’ll be able to tune this drum pad with the lugs on the pad.
Finally, you can mount this drum practice pad anywhere from a table to a stand to literally anything else. It’s a great drum practice pad and we love it!
(4.7 / 5)- Great response.
- Pretty quiet.
- Can mount anywhere.
- Tunable drum pad.
- Not easy to practice your brushes with.
- Mesh heads might not be everyone’s first choice.
Best Drum Practice Pads Buying Guide
In this section, we will be showing you some factors you need to consider when picking out the best drum practice pads for you. We will also be giving you some tips on how to practice if you’re a beginner on the drums.
Portability
Electronic drum sets are quite bulky so they naturally require a lot of space for you to be able to use them effectively. It’s not the same with drum practice pads.
So, the first thing you want to check when looking for any drum practice pad is the portability. Of course, it’s not something you will take with you for a live gig. However, you still want something that’s convenient enough for you to carry with you and practice anywhere and at any time.
That said, some pads are more portable than others. So, figure out what your primary needs are. If you’re a frequent traveler, then you know your mantra should be “the smaller the better”.
For instance, there are some drum practice pads you find which are about the same size as snare drums, that is, roughly 14 inches in diameter. There are also some which you just stick into your backpack. Some of this backpack drum practice pads can be as small as 4 inches.
Of course each size comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. What are they?
Well, for a larger sized drum pad, you’ll find it much easier to practice on it. However, they won’t be as easy to move around. On the other hand, a smaller drum practice pad would be easier to move around. Nonetheless, it will still be a little inconvenient to practice on a smaller drum pad.
Another factor that impacts on portability is the weight of the drum practice pad. While some manufacturers hype the lightness of their pads which is great for travel you’ve got to be careful. Lighter isn’t always better as there’s the tendency for the pad to shift around when you practice.
Feel
Feel is another important factor you want to consider when you pick a pad. If you want something that feels like an acoustic drum, then you should expect that to pay a bit more than the rest.
There are some practice pads that have a different feel on different sides of the drums which gives you the feel of different kinds of drums.
Also, there are some practice pads with a nice rebound which gives you a bit of bounce.
Plus, there are also some with softer, mesh surfaces which enable you to properly dig in.
Electronic drum pads can from different materials such as neoprene, rubber, or wood. Of course, their resistance level varies and can be good or bad depending on the player involved.
Noise
Drum pads are usually quiet, however, some are quieter than others. You should aim for a soft-top pad if you really want to achieve a quiet practice. With incessant striking, rubber pads could get annoying.
Materials
There are various kinds of materials which manufacturers use in making drum practice pads. For instance, harder neoprene surfaces are great as they give little to no bounce. This, in turn, gives the drummer a more realistic drumming experience.
Then there’s the softer gum rubber surface which gives you lots of bounce. Lots of bounce is great as it makes it easier for you to achieve perfect rolls and all that.
Now, if you’re not exactly sure what kind of material you want for your drum pad, then a great idea is to buy a drum pad with dual sides. So, one side is tougher which makes the drum pad quite versatile for the user.
Okay, that’s for the surface. Now, let’s talk about the body of the drum pad. This can also come in different materials. Some might be plastic, some might be wood, others might be metal, it’s a long list. Except you have a preference, wood is great as it’s not as expensive as other options.
How Many?
You also want to consider how many drum pads you intend to get. Some might want to simulate a drum kit experience. In that case, drum pads like Drumeo is a great choice.
However, if you’d rather add to your collection with time, then you could begin by purchasing a double-sided drum pad. This way, you can try out different drum pads and then settle for the ones you like the most.
Where?
By “where”, we mean that you should ask yourself where you intend to set up your practice pad. If your plan is to attach the pads to your current setup, then you have to ensure that you get the right sizes. If you don’t, you might have problems with slippage.
Now, if you’re practicing on the dining table or the kitchen table then getting a drum pad with anti-slip materials is important. Double-sided practice pads usually have anti-slip materials on either side which makes it a great option in this case.
Some people might have to practice in their lap which doesn’t give the best playing experience by the way. However, it is possible and if that’s what you want, then what you should be considering is size and not slippage.
The drum pad shouldn’t be too small or too large. If it’s too large, it becomes difficult for you to actually practice. On the other hand, if it’s too large, you’ll spend more time fiddling with the pad than actually playing.
Budget
Of course, you have to go into the market with a rough idea on how much you’ll be spending on your practice pad. Whatever you do though, make sure you’re not paying a premium for a basic drum pad. In other words, the price should reflect the features of the pad.
So, how much do drum pads really cost? Well, they don’t actually cost so much. Most low end ones can go for below $40 while high end models might cost anything above $100.
What Drumsticks to Use
Although this is mostly a matter of preference, getting a pair of heavier sticks is always our recommendation. We suggest this as it gives you a much better workout than lighter sticks.
With heavier drumsticks, you’ll be better able to practice your speed and endurance. In fact, when you return to lighter sticks, you’ll immediately be able to tell the difference.
Cleaning your Drum Practice Pad
It’s a lot easier to clean your drum pads if you’ve been cleaning them. So, yeah you want to be cleaning your pad as often as possible. And it’s pretty simple too. Simply use a soft rag with some soapy water to wipe down.
Finally… Considering Full Drum Practice Pad Kits
Although drum pads commonly come as one-piece sets, there are manufacturers now that make drum practice pad kits. If you can make the room to accommodate them, these kits provide a more realistic drum practice than one piece sets.
Just like their name suggests, these kits are very similar to a conventional drum set with kick pads and multiple pieces which resemble the toms and snare. In fact, there are even some drum kits which allow you to rearrange the entire set to suit your tastes.
Conclusion
The Movement Drum 12-inch Double Sided Practice Pad is our favorite drum practice pad today. We think Movement Drum Co. did a good job trying to bring a balance of price and features.
The size is just right at 12 inches, it’s dual-sided and it also features 4 hitting surfaces. Tying this up at a really competitive price is what seals the deal for us with this drum practice pad. It’s a great choice for the money!